Boys Will Be Girls

The British knew how to make them. Even with low production values this comedy does well thanks to great direction and skillful actors. "Boys will be girls" is a Joe Rock Production directed by Gilbert Pratt and based on a story by Evelyn Barrie.

Matronly great aunt Emily went off to Africa and left behind her wanna be snobbish family. Ten years later, upon her death, the greedy family members awaits the reading of the will. Ready to celebrate their fortunes the family gathers the evening before with a big party. A great assortment of characters, comic ones, are all expecting to get their share of the inheritance. Plenty of comic gags and facial expressions early on in the film gives us an indication that this is going to be a fast ride.

The lead characters are Leslie Fuller as William Henry Jenkins and his old relative Nellie Wallace as Bertha. Both actors does well with the comedy and Nellie Wallace is a great comedienne, too bad she did not do many films. Another favorite is short actor Georgie Harris as Roscoe, the character that brings on the girls and gets William Jenkins into trouble. During the reading of the will the main benefactor, Jenkins, has to refrain from drinking, smoking and swearing and lead a moral life. Any violations of these conditions and the inheritance will go to Bertha. As Jenkins wife is called away to take care of her sick mother, Jenkis is alone at home. Roscoe and his bevy of beauties arrives on the scene and the race is on. Bertha wants to know if Jenkins can keep his promises and hope to catch him breaking the rules. Typical comedy and fun to watch. Perhaps some of the comic routines are out dated by today standards.

"Boys will be girls" also have an early film appearance by Norwegian actress Greta Gynt, here appearing with her original name, Greta Woxholt. Ms. Gynts career in British films would expand over twenty years and make her a star.

"Boys will be girls" is a fine production and it is interesting to see some nice art deco sets as well. This films merits is also a great display of some of Britains finest actors. Some of them only appearing in Bristish films during the 1930's. The film should be restored and made available one DVD. Private collectors of old 16 mm film reels are sometimes the only way to see films like "Boys will be girls". Lets hope The British Film Institute will restore more of their 1930's film. There still is an audience for them.

In the thirties there were a number of variations on Brewsters Millions.A Will making a bequest subject to impossible conditions.In this instance drinking,smoking and swearing.The beneficiary is Leslie Fuller who,difficult to believe,was a big name in British film comedy.Out to trap hi is that famous music hall star,Nellie Wallace.Now it has to be said that much of this farce is of a very predictable kind,until you come to the last couple of minutes of the film.A truly hilarious scene is precipitated by the introduction of a chimpanzee.She trilateral the dimwits her only scene.There is no way that Fuller can top this.

In theory yet another rehash of 'Nothing But the Truth' in which big, ungainly Leslie Fuller has to give up the vices of drinking, smoking & swearing to qualify under the terms of a will.

In practice it consists mainly of him and the rest of the cast scurrying back & fourth about his luxurious and spacious home (complete with butler Syd Crossley) before piling into their cars and heading for a luxurious and spacious hotel (these later scenes enlivened by authentic night-for-night photography), until last seen monkeying at the piano...

Hmmm. Leslie Fuller ("Bill") cut his teeth on the stage and his abilities didn't really transfer so well to the big screen in this really rather formulaic slapstick affair that rarely raises a smile, much less any guffaws! He is an henpecked gent, married to the rather severe looking Toni Edgar-Bruce, who comes into an inheritance from his long lost aunt. The condition is, though, that he must abstain from smoking, drinking or anything else that might be considered naughty else he loses the whole lot to the ghastly "Bertha Luff" (Nellie Wallace). When his wife has to go away for a weekend, she inadvertently sets the cat amongst the pigeons and temptation is waved under the nose of her husband, much to the delight of the beneficiary in waiting. It's not rotten, just nothing original. The pace is fine, the production basic and the characterisations - well he just reminded me of a poor man's Stanley Holloway for much of the time, and Wallace like she was auditioning (two years early) for the part of "Miss Gulch". Kills an hour, but there are better way so to do!

There is really nothing original about this film - and it is hard to imagine that the story wasn't old hat even back in the thirties. That having been said, it is an amusing example of the type of comedies that were the standard in Great Britain in that period. The plot is simple: Leslie Fuller is Bill Jenkins, who has just been left the lion's share of his rather ferocious and formidable late aunt's considerable estate. The hitch is that Bill must abstain from drinking, swearing and smoking - all of which he enjoys - if he wishes to keep his inheritance, or it will be given over to his cousin George instead. Encouraged by his wife, Bill puts in an honest effort, but in typical comedy fashion events conspire against him. Of course George's scheming, shrewish wife is eager to catch Bill in any moment of weakness and snatch the inheritance for herself. From this premise events follow their predictably droll course.

Fans of screen beauty Greta Gynt are treated to one of her earliest film roles - though in this case it is a minor supporting part as one of a trio of girls who are mistakenly invited by Bill's wife to spend the night at their home while she is away.